Gotye’s Making Mirrors is the kind of pop record that’s so hard to come by it’s like an endangered species. It’s an unrestrained collection of expressive pop that manages to be both tasteful and radio-ready. “Easy Way Out” rides a wave of distorted bassline and surf-rock guitars and is done in less than two minutes. Meanwhile, you can almost picture “Eyes Wide Open’s” galloping drums and pleading vocals reaching the back bleachers of some massive arena. “I Feel Better” is a world-class chin-up anthem in Motown style, while “In Your Life” shows a serious yen for the kind of gospel-tinged new-wave pop we haven’t seen since the days of George Michael. Then there’s the unbeatable “Somebody That I Used to Know,” the guys-and-girls breakup song featuring fellow Aussie Kimbra that, if you’ve heard it, has probably been playing in your head since beginning to read this review. It’s telling that Gotye’s closest points of comparison are such disparate artists as Peter Gabriel, Michael Jackson and Gorillaz — his music is as hard to pigeonhole as it is immediately accessible and imminently memorable.

Also available on CD.


Free download of "Somebody That I Used To Know (featuring Kembra) [Dan Aux Remix]" by Gotye.